Filing-cabinet for talking-machine records



H. C. BROWN FILING CABINET FOR TALKING MACHINE RECORDS.

[APPLICATION nuzo MAY 22, 1916.

Patented Feb. 10,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- INVENTOR WITNESS A TTORN E Y5 H. C. BROWN. FILING CABINET FOR TALKING MACHINE RECORDS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1916.

.Paten' sed Feb. 10,1920.

2 $HEET$SHEET 2- INVENTOR f/em y 6 .527014.

W-ITNESS ATTORNEY;

I To all whom it mag/concern:

; UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY 0. BROWN, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FILING-0113mm Foa TALKING-MACHINE nnconn's.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Febglt), 1920.

Application filed ma 22, 1916. Serial No. 99,112.

Be it known that I, HENRY C. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, and residing in the city of Philadelphia, county'of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Filing-Cabinets for Talking-Machine Records, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to and has to do with a cabinet containing a number of drawer-like members in.which grecontained talking machine records so positioned therein as to be readily accessible. The cabinet is not limited in height, but is commonly made of a vertical dimension such as will accommodate the cabinet to the use of it as a stand upon which certain forms of talking machine apparatus may be placed. Of course, the cabinet is useful with other forms .of talking machine apparatus not-so related to the record cabinet and in this form is adapted to form a part of the furnishings of a room,-together with the other articles of furniture.

The construction of the cabinet which I have evolved and which I will hereafter describe in detail is one in which the drawers ing used and have made it possible that the records be maintained in place with prac tically no movement or the rubbing incident thereto, and I have thus positioned them so that a tendency to warp is overcome.

While-it is'true that the best position for talking machine records not in use is in a horizontal position, at the same time it is the more awkward position in WhlOh to gain access to a single record among a multiplicity of records and I have therefore devised means for readily and with the minimum expenditure of time and energy, storing records in multiples of say twenty-five and for moving the records from a horizon-" tal position into a vertical or practically vertical position where any of the stack or file is readily accessible both for the purpose of' removing it as well as for the purpose of replacing it in its allotted position.

As most collections of talking machine records consist of two sizes thereof, it is desirable in a cabinet of utmost or greatest utility for record storage to provide means to transform or convert the drawers thereof to adapt them readily for the reception of either size of record because in' starting a,

library of records one cannot tell in advance how many 10 inch or 12 inch records he will accumulate and wish to store iri'the cabinet. This object is accomplished in the construction explained below, for, by the simple insertion of'two cradle members, the

tops of smaller records may be-brought to the same height as that of the tops of the larger records when the-latter are stored in the compartment and to the same level with respect to' the index cards. provision, the smaller records would be hard to get at between the index cards which are of a size adapted for use with the larger records.

Another feature of importance is that I have devised a retaining means for maintaining the records in close formation when they are stored and at all other times, except when the restraining means has been Without this forcibly withdrawn from the records and held in another position where it serves as a guard or rest upon which to incline the rec- -ords while seeking for particular records.

The guard in question forms a'movableadjustable side of the drawer and even takes the place of a top portion and an end portion for the reason that when it is in place and applied to the records the pressure is such that there is practically no movement of the records out of the drawer. I The need for the top and end parts is thus obviated;

In the drawings accompanying this specification and relating thereto, Figure 1 shows a cabinet with the improvements of my invention installed therein. Fig. 2 is in a way diagrammatic as it shows. a front view of the distance ofa small record 1s maintained at the height of the to of a large record. Fig. 3 shows a view roken to save space and pieces whereby the top partly in section taken on a plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1., Fig. 4 shows the cabi net with one of the drawers in place for the pur ose of removing a record. As dlst nguis ed from Fig. 1, there is shown the.po- I sition and arrangement of parts incident to the storageof the large sized records. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary VIEW, partly in section, through the center of one of the drawers .and showsv the construction at the end "where the inner and outer drawers are,

hinged the one :to the other. Fig. 6 shows a frontview ofthe drawer members re-.

positioned in a to carry the drawers down to the-floor. At

' the front of the cabinet at the bottom of each drawer there is positioned the rod 4; which extends from side'to side of the front of the cabinet and is held at each end in suitable apertures correctly positioned 1n to panel across the com, artment.

the panels 5. only thing which separates one set of drawers from another for when all of the drawers are completely removed the cabinet is practically entirely hollow, there being no horizontal members within rior of the cabinet.

Fastened to each panel 5 on the sides of the cabinet by means of the screws is the trackway or runway, consisting of the horizontal portion 7 and the curved portion 8. The cross section of the runway is that of a channel member and the distance between flanges thereof is such as to neatly receive the rod member 11 which passes from panel the horizontalportionof t e runway at 7 is continued to the back 6 so that the rod 11 cannot be removed at that point, at the other end of the runway and at the end of the curved portion 8, the rod 11 maybe readily removed as the runway is left open at that point. The ordinary movement of the rod '11 is from the'position noted in Fig. 1 downwardlyand to the back in the runway 7 where the rod 11 may move practically up to the panel 6. When a drawer set is withdrawn the rod 11 takes the posi- 7 tion shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

Except at the extreme ends the rod 11 is encircled by a portion of the drawer member 9 which is seen to consist of the two side pieces 14' whose edges are folded as at '13, and the bottom 15].' Thus a three sided outer casing is formed which is attached di-. rectly to the rod 11. At the other end of the outer drawer member 9 and between it and the inner drawer member 10, is a ing suitably supported legs (not shown) de- I 'pending upon whet er or not it is intended This rod is practically the the inte- 'hin ed connection whereby the front side '2- of t e inner drawer may be moved within 5 limits about the pivot rod 12. The pivot 'rod 12 is inclosed by portion'of the outer drawer member 9 and a portion of the inner drawer member 10 forming a. hinged connection. r

The front2 has fastened to it by means of the screws 21 and 23 a three slded inner" drawer 10, Upon the sides l010 of the inner drawer member 10, flanges. 22 are provided through which screws 21-are inserted and serve to-attach the inner drawer to the front member 2. and by reference to Fig. "'5 it will be understood that by the extension of the inner drawer 10 a connection is made by the screws 23. and the frontm'ember 2.

Openings 24 in the bottom '15 of. the outer caslng may be provided for the free passage therethrough of the head of the screws 23. .In this way the inner drawer 10 is formed of a three sided metallic part havmg sldes 10' 10' and a front wooden portion 2, as shown in the drawings, the metal tioned the rivet 31 fastened to the outer drawer 9 and having an enlarged head which retains the rivet within the slot 32 as seen in Fig. 1. When the inner drawer 10 is withdrawn from the outer drawer 9 to the extent of its movement," the. inner drawer 10 will be in'practically"a vertical position while the outer takes-an oblique position depending upon the contac't of'the outer .drawer with the rod 4,.and-"as influtures which require explanation in; detail.

For instance, at'the center of the front'piece enced by the rod 11in. the runwa at the curved portion 8.

2 is a slot 41 and-at the outer end thereof is a clip 40 secured to the front piece 2 by screws 46. (See Fig. 5). The slot 41 serves and the clip revent the large the edge of the practically the same line. of

contact. each side ofthecenter as best shown in Fig.

slot- 41 thus co operating to maintain the records 43 upon On' -for the purpose' of preventing sidewise may 2 thereare positioned the cradle pieces 33. 1

These are symmetrically placed about the center and as shown in dotted lines in Fig. I extend from near the front of. the inner drawer 10 to the rear thereof. a

Referring again to Fig. 2 at the front of the cradle pieces 33, a shorthorizontal bend ber 36 secured to the front piece 2 by screws 47 and it is thought to be apparent from Fig.

2 that the cradle pieces 33 with the foot 35 fastened thereto. may be manually withdrawn from position in the'member 36 or inserted in position in said member very readily, the contact between foot 35 and shoe 36 being'such as to allow ready withdrawal and insertion without such looseness as would permit'accidental displacement of the said parts in engagement with eachother. In order to more permanently secure the foot 35in position, the outer ends-ofthe member 36 may be bent downwardly so that the passageway therein is restricted.

Referring to Fi 5 and 6, the rods 48 are seen fastened at t e front by insertion-of a short bent portion into a suitable hole 49 and slot 50 in the front 2. Extending upwardly and bendingto the rear, the rod 48, extends through the rear wall of the inner drawer member and by use of a nut 20 upon the threaded end of the rod 48, the said rod 48 is drawn into position and is held by means of the hole 49 and slot 50 at the front 2 frommovement horizontally and vertically. The bottom of the outer drawer member 9 may be provided with a hole 19 affording free passage of the nut 20 therethrough. Two of such members as 48 are supplied to each inner drawer andare placed near the outer ends of the front 2 where they extend through openings 51 1n the distance cards 44 between which are placed the records 43. i

In the corners formed by the front piece 2 and the side members 1010 of the inner drawer 3 there are positioned the casing members made channel shaped as shown in Fig. 5. The web of the casing 25 is set away from the side 10' of the inner drawer member 10 so that a s ace is formed between the member 25 and t e inner'drawer 3, the edges of .the'flanges 26 contacting with the inner surface of the inner drawer 10. Rivets fasten the casings 25 in place.

The purpose of the casing 25 is to cover or inclose the Ushaped spring 27 which is positioned by the rivets 30' and contacts atone end with the guard and pressing member 28 formed as shown pivoted upon stud 29.

The relation of the parts is such that the guard-or pressing member 28 is always in contact with the spring 27 and influenced thereby, the extent of the movement being from the position shown in the middle drawer space in Fig. 1 and including the position of the said member 28 in the drawerspace just above, and also includin the position shown in the drawer sets own as withdrawnin Fig. 1.

Finally, in Figs. 4 and 5, the member 28 is shown at the other and outer limit of its movement. the relation of the U-shaped spring to the member 28 is such that the member 28 is move it. p the member 28 from the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5 to that shown 'in Fig. 1

When in this latter position,

- locked in Iposition and the-springcannot, I

t is necessary to manually move 8 0 (drawer withdrawn) in order to permit the I spring to return it to the position similar to tihat ihown .in the closeddrawer spaces of: 1g. I 4 I It should be noted that on each end of the front piece 2 and in the corner of the inner l' drawer 3, there is disposed the channel piece forming .CQtSl-IlgS'25. The guard or pressing, member 28 extends from a pivotstud 29. on. drawer to the-other side, to-the other corner,

one side, is bent .across the front of-the and to a similar channel section forming a casing 25 Within which is a pivot stud 29. Thus, the guard and pressing member 28 is pivoted on each side of the inner drawer 3,

- extends across the front of the drawer and is acted upon at 'each end by a U-shaped j, spring 27, the spr ngs 27 and pivoted-endsof the member 28 being inclosed by thecover or housing 25. As the outer drawer member which is sub e'cted to considerable stress, 1

- have introduced into the construction there of cert-am strengthening features.

v Referring to Fig. 3, I have shown the rod 4 extending from side to side, and positioned in recesses 4' in the panels 5. The sides 14 of 9 is one the outer drawer member 9 have upon their upper edges the bent over portion 13 which forms a rib and stiflens the edge .of the said member 9. The bottom 15'v of the outer drawer 9 extends practically from one side to the other of the outer drawer 9 and at the opposite corners of the said bottom 15 where the sides 14 join the same, I have stiffened the" said 'member. by formin at this place two channels 17--17 in the ottom 15. 'As

shown in the drawings, the wall. 16 of the the back or bottom 15. of the outer drawer, it also forms a limited bearing surface for the drawer 9 upon the rod 4 andalso positions this bearing surface at the ends of the rod 4-where the least bending of the rod can occur. Thus, a very rigid and uniform contact is made between the outer drawer 9 and the-rod 4; at .the same time, the rod is not disfigured so as to be objectionable and the same may be said of the surface of the back of the outer drawer member 9. 4

Referring to diagrannnatic Fig. 2, the

cradle 'ieces 33 are shown in place. 1 This figure s ould be considered with Fig. i and Fig. 4, for Fig.1 shows the cradle pieces 33 in use. .The

guard rod 28 is placed so as to perinit the records to take an inclined position, while Fig. -4 shows the large records 43 inclined against the Clguard rod 28 at the limit of its outwar When the drawer is usedto store large 'rec-.

ords, the said records'rest in the groove 41 and are maintained parallel to each other or are partly separated so as to permit the 4 ready removal of a record or records. When the drawer is used to store small records, the

cradle pieces 33 are inserted and the records rest upon the cradle pieces and may be'separated to permit of ready removal.

therefore, by reason of. this construction,

The index or distance cards 44 preferably I extend for the full 'width of the inner 25 tops'of the large records 43 when they are contained within the compartment.

The rods 48-pass through elongated holes 51 in the cards 44 and are thus permanently retained in position within the inner drawer. The cards 44 are also provided with open slots 53 extending from the front piece 2 upwardly (when the inner drawer is withdrawn) to a position wellabove and clear' of the tops of the cradle pieces 33.

Said slots 53 are in vertical alinement with the horizontal run of the cradles 33 and,

the cradle members 33 may be withdrawn from the slotted holding member 36 without any interference whatever with the cards themselves and conversely, the cradle memhere 33 may be inserted in position in the slotted holding member 36 whenever it is wished to convertthe drawer to hold smaller records 42. I

*By reason of this construction it is to be observedthat the distance pieces 44 sub stantially cover the entire recorded face of a record andin inserting a record'into place between the distance cards44 or withdrawing it from its allotted place, the record being inserted or'wi'thdrawn is prevented from coming into engagement or rubbing over the recorded face of an adjacentrecord. This is accomplished by providing the card with the narrow slots 53 as above described instead of cutting away the card between the cradlemembers 33.

The height of the horizontal run of the adjustment.

is su; ported upon the cradles, its top will i be su stantially flush with the top (excluding the tabx) of the distance card 44 andc'onsequently the top of-a smallg'ecord when supported upon. the cradle members 33 will be at the same height from the front of the drawer as-that of a large record inserted in such a drawer when the cradle members 33 are withdrawn for the purpose of using the drawer to contain the larger records. I The operation. of\ my invention is as fol-. lows: r

Referring to Fig. 1, wherein the cabinet contains the drawer members; by gras ing the knob '18, the drawers are pulled, rom place and readily. take the inclined position of the outer drawer 9. f By grasping the inner drawer member 10 that part, of the drawer is given a vertical position and in the vertical or in the inclined positionthe top card 44 is referred to as an index of the position of the record in question, each of the cards 44 being numbered, the record is easily located and is withdrawn after the guard 28 has been positioned as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. As the records are returned to their respective places and the inner drawer is filled with the records which belong therein, the guard 28 is manually returned to place, the innerdrawer is swung upwardly into position within the outermember Q-and the unit is'then pushed rearwardly .into the cabinet. It will benoted I that the entire unit may be withdrawn 1 from the curved portion of the track '8 by simply raising the drawer members. until the *rod 11 slides out of the end of the slot. The

drawer members are of course replaced similarly. 1 1 1 I claim; a

, 1. In a cabinet for talking machine records the combination of a casing, a recordholding unit adapted to be positioned in said casing, a rod at the front ofsaid casing upon 2 .which said record holding unit rests substantially constantly, two continuous track ways fol-holding one end of said. unit therebetween, said unit comprising a. hinged member and means in said hinged member .to i hold said records in a horizontal position when said unit'is in place, in said casing and also to permit the records to be held .Without restraint in a vertical and forwardly tilted position.

.2. In a cabinet for holding talking machine records, the combinationof a unit composed of two articulated parts, one part inclosing the other part, aseries of distance cards contained in said other part, spring. 1 controlled means adapted when moved into .one position to maintain said cards and the records included between them in firm contact and when moved into another position to remain'fixed and without restraint on said 1 cards and records, and means detachably s ecured to said other part to contain records of less height than said' distance cards and to maintain the top edge of said last mentioned records at about the top of said distance cards and meanson said detachable means to prevent said last mentioned records from slipping ofl" means.

3. In a cabinet for talking machine records, the combination of outer andinner drawers,

the end of said detachable the outer drawer being attached at one part thereof to the cabinet and movable in and out of said cabinet, a relatively fixed pivotal connection at another part of the outerv drawer between said outer and said inner drawer, and means connected to the inner Q drawer adapted in one position to yieldably contact with the contents of the inner drawer andin. another position to be rigldly posiunit comprisingiinner and outer drawer members, a pair'of tracks extending substan' tially parallel to the bottom of said outer drawer member when said drawer members are in the cabinet,- means extending from the outer drawer. member and slldable 1n said tracks to-hold saidouter drawer member suspendedfrom said tracks in an m clined osition when said drawer members are wit drawn from the cabinet, means for ivotally securing said inner drawer memj-= er 'to said outer drawer member, means to limit the swingof said inner drawer member about its pivotal connection with said outer drawer member from a osition parallel to the bottom of said outer rawer member to a position parallel to the front of said cabinet when the said drawers are withdrawn from within said cabinet, a plurality of index cards attached at one end to the front of said inner drawer member yieldable at one point and fixed at another point and means secured to said inner drawer member tending when in a position normal to the front of said inner drawer member to press against said index cards and when moved in a direction away from said index cards to form a fixed support against which said cards may rest in an inclined position with respect to the bottom of said inner drawer member.

5. In a cabinet for talking machine rec.- ords, the combination of a drawer unit comprising inner and outer drawer members, a pair of spaced tracks extending on opposite sides in said cabinet with the eater part of their length parallel to the bottom of said outer "member when located in the cabinet and having their ends nearest the front side of said cabinet extending in an upwardly curved form, a connection tween sa1d outer drawer member and sa1d tracks whereby, when said drawer unit is Withdrawn from within the cabinet said connection moves upwardly .along said curved portions of said tracks and is adapted to hold said drawer member suspended from said curved portions at an inclination and with said outer drawer member resting against the ,front of said cabinet, said inner drawer member being pivotedto said outer drawer member to swing from a position lying against the bottom of said outer drawer member to a substantially vertical position and means within said inner drawer member adapted in one position to ieldabl press upon the contents thereof an in anot er position-to form a rest for said contents when outside of'said cabinet.

j 6. In a cabinet for talking machine rec-- ,ords, outer and inner drawer members, the outer one of which is connected to the cabi net and movable therein, a connection at another portion of. the outer drawer member movably connectingthe inner drawer mem-.

ber thereof, azseries of-distance cards contamed 1n the mnermember, means for holding said cards in said member and spring controlled means which normally hold the distance cards and the contents of the .in-

ner member in close relation with each other independent of the variation of the contents. in sa1d mner member, said spring controlled ,Aneans also being'capable of bein moved to fixed position where it is deprlved of its yieldable adjustment-whereby 1t serves as a guard or rail upon which to loosely position the said distance cards and contents of said inner member.

7. In a cabinet for talking machines, thecombination of outer and inner drawer mem-- bers, adapted to be located within said cabinet, track membe'rs supported in said cabinet upon opposite sides of said drawer members, means supported in the lower portion of said cabinet upon which the outer drawer member rests, sald'outer drawer member 00- operating with said track members to control the position of said outer drawer member, a hinged connection between said inner and outer drawer members, coacting means upon the mnerand outer drawer members whereby when the outer drawer member 1s ber is limited to a'substantially vertical position, a guard member within the 1nner drawer member and connected thereto so as tion, distance cards within the inner drawer' in operative position, the inner drawer memmember adapted to receive talking machine I records, spaced removable bracket members in said innemdrawer member'for supporting records of smaller size, means within the inner member for retaining the distance containing section, a compartment therefor, a track member disposed upon opposlte walls thereof comprising a straight and a curved portion, a guard member extended across the end of said compartment, said record containing section comprising an onter portion and a hinged inner'portion which may be plositioned substantially vertically and a inged guard member yieldably controlled in dposition at one portion of 1ts movement an fixedly held at another, whereby the records arerestrained thereby atone time and positioned thereupon at another time.

9. In a cabinet for talking machine records, the combination of tiltable outer and inner drawers,'said outer" drawer slidably attached tosaid calbinet,a relatively fixed pivotal connection between said inner and outer drawers, and means connected to theinner drawer adapted in one position to yieldably contact with the contents thereof and in another position to be rigidlyheld out of contact with said contents but against which said contents ma be rested.

In witness whereof, have hereunto set my hand this-20th day of May, 1916.

0. BROWN. 

